Father delivers his own baby son in hotel bedroom after his wife was turned away from top hospital

First-time mother turned away from hospital because she was 'not in full labour' gives birth in nearby hotel bathroom
University College Hospital midwife tells mother she was not in full labourCouple checked-in to nearby four-star Radisson Edwardian Grafton HotelDespite repeated calls to hospital, couple advised it was 'still too early'Father Richard delivers son George Reggie Eades in hotel bathroomParamedics attended to couple and baby after the unusual labour

By
Shari Miller

PUBLISHED:

15:28 GMT, 5 April 2013

|

UPDATED:

16:03 GMT, 5 April 2013

A first-time mother gave birth to her son in a hotel bathroom aided by just her husband after the couple were turned away from a leading hospital.

George Reggie Eades was born into the unusual surroundings after a midwife at University College Hospital, London, told his mother Michelle Booth that she was not in full labour and there was 'nowhere for us to go'.

Without wanting to wander off too far from the hospital, the expectant 39-year-old mother and her partner, Richard, 45, decided to check in at the nearby four-star Radisson Edwardian Grafton Hotel in Tottenham Court Road.

But just four hours later, despite repeated calls to midwives, Ms Booth gave birth to her baby in their 150-a-night room. She was attended to by seven paramedics after the birth on March 16.

Room service: A team of paramedics was on hand to help new mum Michelle Booth and baby George after the unusual hotel birth

While many women resort to taking all
manner of painkilling drugs, the new mother managed to get through the
whole labour with just two paracetamol.

The happy couple decided to give the middle name 'Reggie' to their son after the first letters of the hotel's name.

Ms Booth said: 'They said I was in the early stages of labour, but it felt a lot further on. Basically, they said there was nowhere for us to go.

'Richard found the hotel. I think it was the first one he came across. It's really hard to check in at that time of day normally, apparently.

'But all the staff were brilliant – they upgraded us, which was really sweet.

'We were all laughing and joking with them about room service and saying “we promise we won't have a baby”. But then we did.'

The parents, who recently moved to Hackney from South End Green, Hampstead, opted for a 'hypnobirthing' technique, recommended by UCH to reduce the fear of labour in first-time mothers.

Ms Booth said: 'I was thinking this natural childbirth malarky is a lot harder than I thought. The truth of it was, I was actually very close to giving birth.

'By 1.30pm it was really full on. I was making a lot of noise. I was actually worried about getting thrown out of the hotel, so I was shouting into the duvet.'

She said her partner Richard rang the hospital again, but was told “you're still not there, it is very early days”.

Then, at 2.30pm Ms Booth had a 'mad thought'.

She said: 'I thought “imagine if I'm giving birth” – that's the sort of thing you only hear about on TV.

'Then I put my hands down and felt a baby's head on the wrong side of my body. Richard came in and caught the baby.

'I know I had gone all hippy with the hypnotherapy but I didn't expect to have a completely natural birth.'

Oh boy: Michelle Booth with partner Richard Eades and their son George Reggie, who was born in a hotel room after she was turned away by University College Hospital

She said: 'It was a bizarre moment. We looked at each other like 'did we just do that Have we really had a baby in a hotel' Then it was complete elation.'

The couple rang reception and a team of paramedics came up to their room, cut the cord of the 8lb 8 oz baby and carried Ms Booth 100 yards across the road and into the hospital.

Mr Eades, a sound engineer, said: 'The paramedics were wonderful – one came on a bicycle, then the others from two ambulances.

'The team at the hotel were great too, I went back the next day with chocolates as thanks, the manager was very sweet and didn't charge any extra cleaning costs.'

Ms Booth added: 'We thought we've had quite an exciting story – and quite romantic too – that we would want to tell George when he grows up. I'm very proud. We called him Reggie after the Radisson Edwardian Grafton.'

Pat O'Brien, UCLH Clinical Director, said: 'The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advises that any woman assessed to be in the very early stages of labour, and who is giving birth for the first time, is advised to go home until labour is more advanced, keeping in contact with the hospital by phone to advise on progress.

'This is perfectly normal and research shows that women do better in familiar surroundings where they can relax.

'We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Michelle and her partner on the birth of their healthy baby boy.'